Explore the most popular views trails in Bitterroot National Forest with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you.

This trail was mostly great all around. Didn’t run into any snow, but some flooding over trail. The only problem I have with the trail is that to get down to the road, the first .6 ish miles are a strep downhill. This isn’t bad until you’re at the end of 9 miles and then have to go up. Other than that, the view is worth it!! BEAUTIFUL!

Beautiful hike with my dog. Quite a few people with children in the first mile or so but the further in you go the quieter it gets. Gorgeous views and right now the water is running high and fast which makes it even better. The trail is well maintained but on some of the descents it was easy to slip on the packed dirt. I didn't bring my poles with me this time but I will the next time I come. I only hiked 7 miles as I started later in the day but I will be coming back with my dog to hike the whole trail. Highly recommend this trail!

First hike of the season. I did the full loop and had a great time. The trail was a bit sloppy in places from the snowmelt but was otherwise easy to follow. Free parking if you go between Labor Day and Memorial Day. Including a break for lunch, it took me just over 3 hours.

Many of the descriptions people have posted are incorrect. This is a great hike with several potential destinations. The first are a series of falls about 2 miles in. This area is spectacular and fairly busy. Many hikers stop here. At about 3 miles you cross the creek on either a sketchy log or by wading. From there you have several miles of flat thick forest to hike through. At around 7 miles you reach a series of bedrock creek cascades that are gorgeous. This is a possible camp location as well. Once you progress beyond this, there are fairly frequent flat and relatively open areas if you want to camp below Bryan lake. At about 8 miles, you hit Bryan lake. When we did this trail in 2015, there were quite a few logs over the trail in the upper reaches. I don’t know if they have been cleared since.

Beautiful trail, steep incline at first, but levels out through the canyon, which is breathtaking and impressively tall-walled! Young pine forest surroundings. A friend I visited at Missoula State took me climbing here for my first time and it is a memory I will cherish forever.

Love this trail for an any time hike. there was about 6 inches of snow this time and lots of opportunity for beautiful pictures. We went about 3 miles in and hiked out in the dark. Trailer is well marked with no issue finding our way out.

Great trail. Tons of great views and easy scrambling. When we went the creek was out of its banks so we had to take a few detours. About 6 miles in the canyon narrows and is more wooded. Tons of great rapids and scenery.

This USFS trail does not get a lot of use but is not hard to follow, particularly in early spring or late fall when there is less undergrowth. Great place for isolation, as I've been on it twice and still haven't run into another hiker. Beautiful scenery at some of the clearings as well as nearly panoramic views at the saddle. Good workout too (in my opinion), as the elevation gain is pretty consistent the entire way. The last 1,500 feet was above the snow line when I went, so the last segment was hard (should have brought yaktrax or similar). If you go in summer or when there is less snow, there is a trail downhill and east from the saddle that continues to Burnt Fork Lake, which is apparently beautiful and well-worth it.

October 2017. Lots of down trees, due to the summers fire. Very interesting to hike through the burned areas - some places it burned very hot and there’s nothing left. Some fire retardant still around, which make some areas look like hiking through. a technicolor dreamscape. It’s a different experience than usual, but very interesting. The fallen trees make it more challenging and slower than usual.

Easy.. Haha Nooooo!! Snowy most of the way, alders covered in snow, draped over the trail in many places. Great view above the clouds, now that I am done I am feeling like a rockstar but damn that was a tough hike!!!

Love this trail, it is a hard hike however we have hiked it 2 times with our 3 children. The baby was in a pack on my back and I was tired but I was able to do it without complications. The older two hiked it with a few breaks, but we made it a mile or two up.